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12 Best Natural Home Remedies For Body Odor

Sweating is your body’s natural mechanism to keep the temperature under control. Excess sweating, whether under armpits, or sweaty hands and feet can lead to bad body odor.

A sudden increase in body odor is usually caused by a pungent underarm odor or a smelly groin area. Proteins in the sweat are broken down by bacteria into foul smelling acids. Deodorants are used to avoid the smell and the public humiliation that comes with it, but many now question whether the chemicals used in deodorants are harmful. If you are wondering how to get rid of body odor, then look no further. Our home remedies will stop body odor naturally without deodorants. No more need to smell.

What Causes Body Odor?

Contrary to popular belief, the body odor is not produced because of too much bacteria on the skin. The unpleasant smell is a result of the breakdown of proteins into different acids.

* Yes bacteria play a part, but it is the concentration of protein in the sweat that is the root cause of body odor.

The odor occurs after the production of two acids – propionic acid and isovaleric acid.

Propionic acid is formed by the bacteria known as propionibacterium. The acid has a pungent smell similar to that of vinegar.

Isovaleric acid is created by Staphylococcusepidermidis bacteria. This acid is also found in different types of cheese.

* The sweat that contains the amino acids is produced by two types of glands found on all over the body.

Eccrine glands are responsible for the formation of sweat that goes to the surface of the skin. This sweat plays an important role in temperature regulation.

Apocrine glands are the main culprit for the undesirable smell. These are present in eyelids, armpits, breasts, and genital area. Other functions of these glands are the creation of earwax and fat droplets in breast milk.

A sudden increase in female body odor is more distressing then an increase in male body odor. The causes of a sudden increase in body odour arise from the groin and armpits and are nearly always due to the apocrine glands. This is why they are also called scent glands.

These glands typically go into overdrive for two reasons. The first is stress and anxiety. They are activated when you’re under psychological stress. Your nervous system joins in with a racing heart, sweaty palms and dry mouth.

The second reason for a sudden change in body odour is diet. Certain foods have a high sulphurous content which your body may find hard to expel. Spices, garlic, onion, asparagus and sprouts can lead to excretion of sulphur into your sweat.

* Finally, body odour is unique to each individual. Health, age, gender, and diet are some of the factors that may affect the smell.

Tips to get rid of Body Odor

1. Use Baking Soda

How to prevent body odor without using deodorant is a commonly asked question. Baking soda can be a great way to deal with this problem. Instead of wasting money on chemical-filled deodorants, you can easily rely on it.

Since baking soda can absorb moisture from the skin, it is effective in reducing sweat and body odor. Another reason to use baking soda is its antibacterial action.

Mix one tablespoon of baking soda with water to make a paste. This paste can be applied to the underarms as well as other parts that are prone to sweating and body odor. Wait until it the paste is dry and wash it off.

Remember to wash in a gentle way and not scrub. Do this every day for a couple of weeks for best results. For quicker results, lemon juice can also be used in place of water in equal amounts to the baking soda.

If you are looking for protection for many hours, apply equal parts of baking soda and cornstarch. Make sure to apply this mixture on dry skin. This will prevent sweating as well as the body odor.

2. Buy some Fenugreek Seeds

Fenugreek seeds are amazing for health. Another reason to buy them is that they are among the easiest home remedies for body odor. To prepare the fenugreek solution, you will need one teaspoon of the seeds and 250ml water.

Add the fenugreek seeds to the water and boil it till the quantity of the water is down to half. Drink this tea every morning on an empty stomach. It will help with excessive sweating and detoxify the body at the same time.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a powerful antibacterial agent and also helps in balancing the pH levels of the skin. If you want to get rid of body odor from clothes, this remedy can also help.

There are several ways to use apple cider vinegar for eliminating body odor. The simplest one is to apply it directly to the underarms or other problem areas using a cotton ball. This technique has to be followed twice a day – before going to bed and in the morning.

Another way of using it is via the oral route. How to get rid of body odor without using deodorants or any medicine? Add two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to a glass of lukewarm water along with a little honey. Drink one glass before every meal. You will probably not need any pills if you follow this method.

For the clothes, add one cup of apple cider vinegar in a bucket of water. Soak the shirts, tights, or other garments in this water for ten minutes. It will immediately get rid of the body odor.

4. Make Fennel Seeds and Honey Tea

Drinking fennel seed tea is one of the fastest home remedies to get rid of body odor. This remedial is also easier to follow because it is great for the taste buds. For this, you will need one teaspoon of crush fennel seeds and a cup of water.

Add the crushed fennel seeds to the water and wait for it to boil. Strain the mixture and add honey for a stronger flavor. Have a cup of this tea every other day to boost your digestive health and keep the bad smell away.

5. Apply Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is very effective in preventing body odour. This is because of the acidic properties of lemon which can help in lowering the pH levels of the skin. Lower pH levels, in turn, make it hard for the bacteria to thrive.

If you want to get rid of body odor without using deodorant, this method is helpful. All you need is one fresh lemon or more depending on how many areas you want to apply.

Take the lemon and cut them into two halves. Rub the two parts of the specific areas and allow it to dry. You can either wash the areas or take a bath afterward. Follow this remedy every day until you are free of body odor problems.

If you have sensitive skin, you can dilute the lemon juice in a half cup of water. Apply the lemon water using cotton balls and wash it off after ten minutes. This method will prevent body odor and make you smell lemon fresh instead.

6. Consume more Green Tea

Consuming green tea is one of the best home remedies for body odor as it will also boost your health. The tea contains tannic acid and antioxidants. These will help in fighting odor-causing bacteria from within.

You can either have a cup of green tea in the morning or apply it directly to the problematic areas.

7. Get Some Witch Hazel

Witch hazel has been long been used as a way to stop body odor. It works by creating unsuitable conditions for the bacteria on the skin to survive. The astringent properties of witch hazel can also help by shrinking the skin pores. This will lead to a lower production of sweat.

You can use witch hazel with the help of a cotton ball. This can be done whenever you feel like you smell bad as it works like a natural antiperspirant. If you want to know how to get rid of body odor from clothes, this technique can also help you.

Add one cup of witch hazel to a bucket of water and let your clothes soak for 10-20 minutes. You can also make a witch hazel spray. Mix equal parts of witch hazel and water and add to a standard size spray bottle. Use this mixture at the places your clothes are likely to smell such as the underarms.

8. Soak in Epsom Salt

Epsom salt baths are great when it comes to combating unwanted smells as they stop body odor naturally. This is a simple technique for which you will only need 2-3 cups of the salt.

Add the salt to your daily bath and relax. Soaking every day will help in keeping excessive sweat away in no time.

9. Rosemary

The herb is also abundant in zinc – a mineral whose deficiency is known to lead to body odors.

Rosemary can be used as a natural deodorant. It will help in keeping bad scents away and in smelling good at the same time. Rosemary contains chlorophyll and menthol. Both of these can prevent body odor and give a pleasant fragrance to the body.

For this remedy, you will need a half cup of dried rosemary leaves and four cups of water. Add the rosemary leaves to the water. Let it steep for around 10-15 minutes and then add it to your bath water. Soak in the bath for 10-20 minutes. Follow this remedy every other day for smelling nice throughout the day.

10. Bathe with Tea

While this may sound a bit weird but adding tea in water can be very helpful in the reduction of excessive sweating and preventing body odor. It is also very simple and you only need 4 tea bags and 2L of water.

Bring the water to boil and add all four of the tea bags. Add this tea to your regular bath water. Relax in the bath for 20-25 minutes. Follow this remedy at least thrice a week for the fastest results.

11. Brew a Cup of Sage Tea

Sage is known for its sweet fragrance and is often used in deodorants. Sage tea can help in reducing the production of sweat and control bacteria. Thus, it is among the easiest home remedies for body odor.

If you are not a fan of chemicals and want to know how to get rid of body odor without using deodorant, follow this method. Steep one teaspoon of dried sage in a cup of hot water for no longer than ten minutes.

Strain the leaves and enjoy your tea. It is also great for health but does not have more than two cups of it in a day.

12. Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil has powerful antibacterial properties and is a natural antiseptic. This is why it can be used as a natural deodorant to prevent body odor. It may help in fighting bacteria and fungi present on the skin and keep foul scents away.

For this remedy, you will two teaspoons of tea tree oil and two tablespoons of water. Combine the water and oil and apply it directly on underarms and other places. It will help in preventing the build-up of bacteria throughout the day.

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